The Importance of Food Biochemistry and Metabolic Processes

Metabolic processes are influenced by the biochemistry of food. This article discusses food biochemistry, the major components of diet, and how they are metabolized by the body; it also discusses common diseases and research related to these concepts.

Food biochemistry is the production of energy from the breakdown of food in the cell. Nutrients are used by the cell to create energy, and vitamins and minerals are also essential for proper metabolic processes. The nutrients are carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. Carbohydrates can come in a variety of forms from simple to complex, and the carbohydrate molecules are composed of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Lipids are solid fats and liquid oils, the molecules are primarily made up of carbon and hydrogen, and lipids are broken down into three major groups known as triglycerides, phospholipids, and sterols.

Proteins consist of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, and they form chains of amino acidbyjuios. These chains are formed using a variety of the twenty different amino acids that exist. They are used as a catalyst for biochemical reactions in the cells, and they also act as transport molecules and add structure to cells. Vitamins and minerals are necessary for the body's metabolic functions; vitamins are either water-soluble or fat soluble, and they are necessary for enzymes. Major minerals are calcium phosphorus magnesium, sodium chloride sulfur, and potassium, and they 100 milligrams are necessary for proper function per day. Trace elements are also important, but they are needed in smaller doses; trace elements are iron, zinc, iodine, fluoride, copper, selenium, chromium, manganese and molybdenum.

Biochemistry of food plays a role in common diseases, and researchers have been studying this concept for a long time. Overconsumption and malnutrition commonly cause disorders because the body needs certain amounts of the previously list nutrients, vitamins and minerals to function properly. Too much of these components in a diet can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol; a deficiency of these components can lead to a metabolic disorder known as beriberi, rickets, and other disorders and diseases. Researchers have been studying the biochemistry of food in relation to the metabolic processes of the body since Aristotle's time, and the study of the biochemical make up of food paired with diet and nutrition has helped scientists determine the causes and methods of prevention for many disorders and conditions. These studies have also led to the creation of the recommended dietary allowances, and these theories influence how many humans eat on a daily basis.

The biochemistry of food is important to the lives of all individuals. The information found in this article provides essential information about the body's needs and use of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. "Since the 1970's, research has consistently associated nutritional factors with six of the ten leading causes of death in the United States;" this article discusses how overconsumption and under consumption can cause these nutritional factors to occur. Understanding how cells "convert the nutrients of the food one eats to energy and other structural components of the body" is essential to having a healthy diet. Understanding how food is processed can lead to healthier choices and a healthier life (Food biochemistry).

"Food biochemistry." Magill's Medical Guide, 4th Rev. ed.. 2008. eLibrary. Web. 15 May. 2011.